Classic rodent models of SCI can rapidly and spontaneously recover locomotor function, muscle mass, and energy metabolism within weeks after injury. This is attributed to “self training” and does not replicate the conditions experienced by human patients who are often confined to bed rest for an extended period of time. Using 31P-MRS during electrically stimulated exercise to assess mitochondrial oxidative capacity in vivo, we show that restricted activity by cast immobilization delays spontaneous recovery of skeletal muscle metabolism in a rat model of severe SCI.
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